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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Friendly Village Thanksgiving

I truly love Thanksgiving. While I was in the Air Force, I spent every Thanksgiving away from home, and spent several far away entertaining troops in Turkey, Korea, Germany and Bosnia. Maybe that's why I love it so much now that we are settled here near my parents.

The last several years, I have really enjoyed the afternoon meal we have with my parents and a close family friend. My mother lets me cook the turkey now, so I cook it overnight starting about midnight. I love to wake up to the smell of roasting turkey with fresh herbs from my garden. It reminds me of my childhood.

I really wanted something special for place cards this year, so I took music from my great grandmother's 1920 song book, scanned it, edited the image to get what I wanted, then turned it into this.

I also wanted to use something different on the table, so I borrowed from my mother's wonderful collection of Johnson Brothers Friendly Village. She has old and new ones, but we will be eating on the newer ones. The salad plates will actually come off and be used for dessert later.

Heirloom Wallace "Louvre" sterling flatware from 1893 definitely adds a vintage touch to this table as do the linen embroidered napkins from my mother's collection.

For the centerpiece, I used an old wormy chestnut board covered with arborvitae, hydrangeas, pine cones and hand-painted pumpkins.

Silver sugar bowls, creamers and a sterling compote that belonged to my great grandmother are filled with coffee beans and different size candles.

My great grandfather's "Aladdin" style oil lamp takes center stage and will come in handy when the snow comes and the power is off:-)

I can almost smell the homemade pumpkin pies my mom will make from Candy Roaster squash with my grandmother's homemade crust recipe. Of course, her apple pies will be just as wonderful.

Cornbread dressing and gravy will be accompanied by mashed potatoes, green beans and corn from my mother's garden, and just maybe she will make her homemade rolls.

I love her cranberry/strawberry salad, but my favorite is the banana, apple and pecan salad she makes just like my grandmother did.

All in all, it really will be a pretty simple meal with mostly homegrown food and family favorites.

The most important part, though, will be sharing a meal with loved ones and thanking God for the incredible blessings in our lives. Maybe that's why I love Thanksgiving so very much:-)

Very gorgeous tablescape for Tksgiving! I love the Friendly village dishes, they're so pretty and perfect for the Holidays and this lovely season. Your centerpiece is awesome, as is everything, Anita! Hugs,FABBY

Anita it's all absolutely exquisite! You have such a gift for putting together the most beautiful table settings and anyone would feel honored to get to sit down at that table for Thanksgiving! :-)Vanessa

Anita, as usual you have come up with a most wonderful table. I always like seeing how you work family items into your plans. I love the colors. I have used those colors for Thanksgiving the past few years.

I just want you to know that you introduced me to tablescaping. I bought over a hundred pieces of Franciscan Ivy, a pattern my mother had in the '50's and googled it to see what colors and types of accessories to use with it. I don't have hers because Mama felt it was too prone to chipping and gave it to her mother-in- law who was collecting the same pattern at that time. When my grandmother died, my aunt wanted it.

For me a new hobby was born! I don't have a blog (yet); so I say I'm just practicing. I can't handle the photography.

I love Friendly Village, in fact, I invite you to visit my most recent post, as I used some of it in my china cabinet display, but your table is absolutely lovely. I'm trying to think of the feeling it conveys, because yes, these dishes are warm and cozy and inviting, but you creted a lovely other dimension with your embellishments. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Anita. ~Zuni